What It Is
crowding the gate before your group is called.
What It Really Means
closer to the rope != closer to boarding.
Deep Notes
Although humorous, Gate Lice has become one of the most widely recognized pieces of traveler slang. The term reflects broader changes in airline boarding processes, overhead-bin competition, and passenger behavior.
The phrase migrated from forum culture into mainstream travel journalism and is now commonly understood even by travelers who have never participated in loyalty communities.
Synonyms:
Gate Swarm, Boarding Swarm, Gate Crowd
also known as:
Gate crowd